Thats a nice looking engine.

Thats a nice looking engine. I think I know where you got it from Starts with an F by chance. I have just started down the same path, switching from HO to On30. First engine on my list to buy  is the same one but outside frame version

Regards Phil

I intend to hand lay the track

In that case the hard part would be finding 1:55 scale details and parts wouldn't it?  Anything built from lumber and metal shapes can be built in either scale but castings and other details might be too hard to find in odd ball scales?  I can't see 1:55 scale having enough size advantage over On3 /1:48 scale or Sn3/1:64 scale to make it worth doing all the extra work? .....DaveB

A sweet little loco

In any gauge, that's a sweet little loco. I have two, here's one of mine in revenue service:

I added sound to mine, it is a very straightforward procedure. As for broadening the gauge to 3', not sure about this loco...I know most Bachmann locos have actually been designed to accommodate that quite easily. This is such a small loco, the prototype was a 2' gauge, those cylinders might not work as well at 3'. I suggest you do an internet search for any forum topic on broadening this loco.

Part of the fun of On30 is taking the HO stuff and repurposing it for narrow gauge...here are two locos that arrived this week, and are awaiting their On30 operations!

Heresy! cry the HO modelers. Actually, these two diesels were always On30 models trapped in HO shells...anyway, whatever gauge you settle on, have fun! 

Very valid points brought up by DaveB ...

... which is why I've posed the question here.  

Castings:  Assuming you are referring specifically to those associated with the track (although in more general terms it would apply across the board).  I was thinking of simply spiking the rail to wooden ties, and foregoing baseplates.  As to the fishplates, was thinking that they would be proportional to the rail size (i.e., the actual size of the fishplate and bolts would be proportional to the size of the rail)?  I was thinking that I would use the HO castings as everything is in the proper gage (and in my mind HO castings tend to be a on the large size anyway) ... but perhaps I've gotten it wrong ....

(And as far as baseplates go, I'd think that again, they'd be proportional to the rail size; so one could use HO castings for the appropriate code rail?)

@ Verne ... I owe a great deal of my weakness in succumbing to On30 on account of you and your posts here on the forums ... yes, it is largely your fault that I have stumbled.  

As to the 3' gage ... I would not regage anything on the loco, just 'rename' the scale from On30 (1:48) on HO track; to 55n3 (1:55) on HO track.  Just as you have 'repurposed' HO stuff to On30; I'd be doing the same but to 1:55 (as well as using small O-scale items ...).  If I decide to go this route, I would try to use appropriate ties and spacing (as it has always been my intention to hand lay the track either way that I go, the difference is small).

referring specifically to those associated with the track?

No ,I was thinking about all the other details it takes to make a layout. Narrow gauge track could look fine with HO joint bars and tie plates but how about 1:55 scale people, autos, trucks, and other scenery items? A lot of the stuff s not scale dependent so O or S stuff could work but some things need to be a certain size. That's why I'd suggest working in a more common scale so the work could be done faster and easier. It's hard enough to build a layout when one can get the stuff in the right size so adding to the difficulty doesn't appeal to me. I've had that same problem when looking for TT scale items for a layout, working in HO scale  is so much easier and relaxing in comparison. If you must use HO gauge Verne's layout is a good example of 1:48 scale on HO track and I've seen nice looking 1:64  Sn42 layouts on HO track so working in 1:55 scale would be a hard sell to me, I just can't see it being any better than the more common scales after all the extra work had been put into it?......DaveB

Right on, Dave O

As for 1:55, there are several great modelers who are pulling it off by adapting 1:48 parts and modeling smaller prototypes, so the proportion is within range. Check out Dallas Mallerich's 1:55 steam project on the Railroad Line forum as one example of fine craftsmanship...do a search and you can pull up his thread. The toughest obstacles are figures and vehicles. It's clearly a 'road less traveled' but that's appealing to many who like to scratchbuild and do something different, which is a worthy goal. 

As for 'blame', happy to contribute to the 'fall' of another modeler into the crazy fun of large scale narrow gauge!

Dave B, I understand your point, but I think Dave O is actually looking for a bit of a challenge. I recall a reporter asked  Sir Edmund Hillary why he climbed Mt. Everest. "Because it was there." Doing something unique can be very motivating, more for some than others. It's what caused me to unload years of N scale collecting to 'play' in my On30 desert world.

Why 55n3?

Visit:
 

http://www.55n3.org/

For one it takes up less room, no one can afford 1/4" scale structure kits so scratchbuilt structures are needed anyway, able to make realistic locomotives with HO mechanisms etc.

If you have an OPEN mind there are tons of usable things:

HO structures can be used in Scale55:

Figures are available in 28mm military sites:

HO locomotives can be converted:

There are more early vehicles available:

If you are outside the "box" please visit my site you will be surprised, if your head is stuffed in the "box" or something else there is nothing to see here.

My health keeps me from continuing with this idea. Exploring and finding things that work is great fun.

My reason for 55n3 is the use of HO locomotives to model early narrow gauge something you can't do cheaply anywhere else.

Thank you if you visit

Harold

something you can't do cheaply anywhere else.

  I think it's false economy to base the decision on just the cost of a loco. Everything else on a layout costs the same no matter what the loco costs. If you want realistic track you can't use cheap HO track so might as well lay it to On3 gauge instead then you can use 1:48 details instead of spending time trying to find 1:55 details. If 1:48 is too big for the space then go with 1:64 and SN3 or SN42 if cheaper locos are desired?   A loco is a very tiny percentage of the cost of a layout so I'd based the decision on many other factors before that one.On3 and Sn3 have proved resale value that odd ball scales might not have so saving money to start might cost more money in the end. I think the best way to save money is to build a smaller less complicated layout using high quality equipment and materials. ..DaveB

ah, Harold ...

... good to see you here.    Thanks so much for the link, looks like lots of ideas for this little locomotive.

Back to DaveB ... as you'd quoted my comment concerning hand laying the track, I had thought that was the basis of your comment concerning the castings ... sorry about that.

You are correct, the selection for 1:55 is not nearly so good as that for the more common railroad scales; however, things are available.  As Harold has mentioned, just because it doesn't say 1:55, doesn't mean that it won't work.  People come in different sizes, and models of people also show a large variety in dimensions, even within the same scale.  So, by selecting a 'smallish' 1:48 figure or a 'largish' 1:64 figure, a scale 1:55 figure can be had.  And if pressed, one can modify certain figures to make them more suitable in 1:55 scale.

Perhaps one could invoke a little bit of forced perspective by using O-scale figures in front, and  S-scale figures toward the back?  Don't really know, might be interesting to try.

I think that the bottom line is that one is still using mostly commercial products; but is just being a bit more conscientious of the 'true' size of the objects, selecting only those that work in 1:55 scale.  The hard stuff (in my mind) such as mechanisms, trucks, locomotives, rolling stock, i.e., the stuff that you HAVE to have (and I'd rather not scratch build) is already there; and in the end you really have an accurate model representing the more common 3' gage (albeit in an 'uncommon' 1:55 scale).  Seems 'doable' to me and very little really lost if it doesn't pan out ... worst case, you call it On30 ....  

Seems 'doable' to me

Just be aware of the potential difficulties before jumping in. If it was easy everyone would be doing it :> ) ....DaveB

Hi Dave O, I'm hooked by

Hi Dave O,

I'm hooked by this interesting theme. Let me give you some informations about this scale please.

In England, some modelers are making 1:55 scale from 1963. The scale is called 5.5 mm scale. Some model 2'  track using 12 mm gage track. Others use 16.5 mm track to represent the 3' gage.
It's organized in a "society".

Here are some interesting links...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.5_mm_scale

http://www.blackhamtransfers.com/55/5andahalflogo.html

http://www.blackhamtransfers.com/55/MalSavKits/MSMWeb%20Catalogue%205.pdf

One day, I met people from the 5.5 mm association in an exhibition when I went to England (I'm French). This scale is very interesting!

You have a nice project!

@Verne

I love your idea to model On30 locomotives from HO scale diesels: Great!

I've made several diesel and steam engines using HO scale chassis for my 1:43th scale narrow gage layout there is a long time ago and they still run on my layout.

All the best to all!

A fantastic idea to be sure, but not mine

SJVRR, the cannibalization of HO stuff to create On30 goes back at least three decades, of course it's not my idea...it was 'how On30 was done' before Bachmann arrived with their On30 products. The NW2 will be a boxcab I am cobbling together from Boulder Valley Models parts with a scratchbuilt frame and roof details. It will be named 'El Cajon' (The Box') and will be the world's first LMG (Liquid Methane Gas) powered locomotive - 'Powered by Frijolene'.

It would be great to see your modified locos...please post some photos if you can.

I applaud anyone wanting to branch out into these innovative scales with unique approaches. Personally, I am happy with 30" gauge, and love modeling in 1/4" scale. I might play around with a larger scale someday, but to each their own!

Great project Verne! I

Great project Verne!

I began to make my own locomotives bodies onto HO scale chassis in 1985... I was 16...

My first "realistic" model was a 0-6-0T Decauville I've built in 1991 on a 0-6-0 Fleischmann chassis (it isn't really sharp but it's a very old conception).

The body is cardboard.

Later, in 1993, I've built this one: a German 0-8-0T (Feldbahn) on a Fleischmann chassis too. A cardboard body too and styrene cylinders and domes.

More recently, in 2008, I built this American WWI Baldwin with styrene onto a Bachmann 0-6-0 ST chassis. 

...

I have built several other models in 1:43 (narrow gauge like this or standard gauge - shortline) and recently in 1:24 on HO scale modified chassis but I don't know if I can post them here on this thread and if you are interested to see them.

I'm very happy with Oe modeling scale (1:43th scale narrow gauge as we say in Europe). I like to create models and especially locomotives and rolling stock. This scale is a good compromise. In general, 16.5 mm gauge is an excellent potential to make our dreams.

Sorry to flood on your thread Dave O

Oh, man!

Those are beautiful!

Please post more if you have them, either here or in a new thread where they may be easier for others to find?  Cardboard and styrene?  I'd never have guess that!  Well done and thanks for sharing!  

Very nice!

Great craftsmanship, SJVRR!  The small steam locos are so interesting...my favorite is the Baldwin! Thanks for sharing, I agree these deserve their own thread!

Many thanks to you Dave O and

Many thanks to you Dave O and Verne.

My Baldwin is my favorite too.

My work is modest: the locomotives are far to be perfect. I like to make my own models looking for what material I can use to represent this or that shape...

More photos...

Another US Baldwin I've made in 1996 - cardboard body, Fleischmann chassis with 2 added wheelsets.

Another 0-8-0T DFB (right) and a tiny Decauville (0-4-0).

More to come...